George Lucas's Museum of Narrative Art Opens After 17 Years

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a project envisioned 17 years ago by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, has opened to the public in Los Angeles. Lucas described the $1 billion institution in Exposition Park as a "temple to the people's art," a project that he said "almost broke my will."

The museum, co-founded by Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, houses nearly their entire personal collections. It aims to showcase a broad spectrum of art, blending works by populist painters, commercial illustrators, and comic artists with those typically found in major museums.

Notable Exhibits and Features

Among the attractions is a sculpture titled "The Hutt Slayer," depicting Princess Leia choking Jabba the Hutt, a scene from "Return of the Jedi." While "Star Wars" elements are present, they represent a small portion of the museum's holdings. An inaugural exhibit, "Star Wars in Motion," displays vehicles from the original trilogy and the prequel films. Statues of Yoda, Grogu, and Padmé Amidala are also featured on the museum grounds.

The museum also highlights artists often considered outside the traditional art world. In a fifth-floor gallery, two walls feature stenciled murals by the British street artist Banksy, who collaborated with Lucas on his contributions to the museum. These murals include the well-known image of a girl releasing a heart-shaped balloon. Nearby, activist murals by artists such as Judith Baca and Diego Rivera are displayed.

Architectural Design

Designed by architect Ma Yansong, the museum's distinctive, billowing structure has been likened to a cloud. A central oculus in the dome above the main plaza is described by Ma as a "spiritual space," intended to make the building an "emotional space for people."

Key Artworks

A Frida Kahlo portrait, "Autorretrato Dedicado al Dr. Eloesser" (Self Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser), from 1940, is prominently displayed. Acquired by the museum in 2020, it is one of the few such portraits by the artist held outside of Mexico. The painting depicts Kahlo with flowers in her hair, a thorn necklace, and earrings gifted by Pablo Picasso, whose work is also part of the museum's collection.

In a juxtaposition of high and low art, Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's 1894 painting "Poker Game," showing dogs playing cards, is displayed near the Kahlo portrait. This work, the first in a series by the American artist, is presented as an example of art specializing in popular imagery.